A WORLD title fight for highly-rated unbeaten boxer Milan Melindo is just around the corner, and a win over veteran Juan Esquer this Saturday night in the main event of ?Pinoy Pride 11 ? Philippines vs. The World? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino could solidify his status as a title contender.
However, the 25-year-old Esquer has other plans and is positive that he would derail the career of Melindo and use him as his stepping stone for glory.
?Don?t miss this fight because Melindo will face a Mexican fighter who will make him feel weird and hand him his downfall,? a confident Esquer said in a press conference yesterday.
Melindo, who is rated No. 3 in the flyweight rankings of the WBO, is 25-0 with nine KOs and has beaten former world champions Carlos Tamara and Muhammad Rachman.
But Esquer, a one-time world title contender, isn?t impressed.
?I don?t see him as my toughest opponent. On fight night, I?ll show him what Mexican boxing is all about,? said the Mexican banger, who will try to wrest Melindo?s WBO Inter-Continental flyweight crown.
As to Melindo?s claim that he won?t last more than five rounds, Ester said, ?Excellent words but I came here to knock him out in the fifth round or even earlier.?
The Navojoa, Sonora native is 29-9-2 with 21 knockouts and said most of his losses were controversial and were fights ?stolen by the judges from him.?
?I come prepared for 12 rounds. I hope the judges will be fair,? he said.
Meanwhile, Diego Ledesma (18-4-2, 12 KOs) said he will show why he is called ?Tyson? when he faces the undefeated Lorenzo Villanueva (21-0, 20 KOs) in the undercard, while experienced former world title challenger Kaichon Sor Vorapin (25-10, 9 KOs), who teaches Muay Thai at a university in Thailand, is confident his long layoff won?t be a factor in his eight-rounder against Mhar Jhun Macahilig (13-1, 7 KOs).
Sor Vorapin, who last saw action in 2007, said that he came here to win and trained for two months for his comeback fight.
